Zachary Lum, DO, FAAOS
Assistant Clinical Professor of Orthopaedic Surgery
Adult Reconstructive Surgeon
University of California Davis
Sacramento, CA
Member Since: 2013
How has the AAOS helped you throughout your career?
AAOS has provided a professional home where education, advocacy, and community intersect. Through its courses, meetings, and committee work, AAOS helped shape my development not only as a surgeon, but as a leader committed to equity, wellness, and systems-level impact.
As an Active Fellow, which AAOS resources do you use most and why?
AAOS clinical guidelines, educational programming, and committee involvement. Together, they translate evidence into practice while offering early-career surgeons a pathway to contribute meaningfully to the profession beyond the operating room.
What’s the best advice you were ever given? Who was it from?
“Your background does not limit your trajectory—your consistency defines it.”
— A senior mentor early in my training who believed in long-term growth over short-term validation.
What’s your go-to productivity trick?
Protecting deep work time on my calendar and saying no to tasks that don’t align with my core mission.
What’s one thing you’re currently trying to make a habit?
Building recovery into my schedule with the same discipline as clinical or academic work—because sustainable leadership requires energy, not just effort.
What hobbies do you enjoy in your spare time?
Outdoor rock climbing, strength training, mentoring trainees, and designing physician wellness initiatives that actually work in real-world practice.
Tell us a fun fact about yourself that not many people know
I was going to become a car mechanic before medical school.